Today we’d like to introduce you to Jai Mayhew.
Hi Jai, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a fashion & portrait photographer. I create editorial sessions designed to celebrate and empower women, helping them to look and feel beautiful from the inside out.
I’ve been photographing women for decade now, but my career behind the camera started by mistake. I wanted to be a TV anchor, broadcasting news to people every night, so I went to university for Communications (during which time I actually took a film photography class. The teacher didn’t care for my style much, but I loved it.) and afterwards worked on the Hill in DC. I met Hilary and Kennedys. It sounds glam but I was a creative trapped in an office writing endless reports and my soul was slowly dying. One day I just had enough and just walked out, my plan being that I’d become a makeup artist. Quite by accident, I picked up a camera before I picked up a makeup brush and I haven’t put it back down.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Becoming an entrepreneur is never an easy road. You’re not only learning and perfecting your craft, but you’re learning invoicing systems, marketing tools, how best to social network, when to file taxes for state vs federal (as someone who’s moved a lot that’s always my first question), etc… It’s a never ending education.
But the joy has always outweighed the struggle for me. When I win, I win for me and for my team. I’m not winning to pay someone above me, I’m doing this because it’s what I love. I encourage new photographers to make sure they know their cost of doing business so that they can price themselves correctly. Your numbers can’t be arbitrary, make sure you’re able to pay yourself for all of the hard work you’re doing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a portrait photographer with a fashion background, I often add editorial /storytelling notes to my images that aren’t typical of all portrait studios. For me, that viewpoint is known for being sensual & romantic (and often in B&W because I love the timeless vibes you get when you remove color from the scene).
I’m proud of having cultivated a recognizable style, but I’m always trying to improve on it and better what I can offer to my clients. The day you’re done growing as an artist is the day you should put down your camera.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I want to publish a coffee table art book one day. I love everything about Paris to the point of a mild obsession, so I think that would be my topic of choice.
Pricing:
- Session Fee – 750
- Collections Start at – 3400
Contact Info:
- Email: admin@jaimayhew.com
- Website: www.jaimayhew.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaimayhew
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/JAIphoto
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDLgqNhLi_rkSpFFZp-G8MQ
